What will the weather be like tomorrow?

“A dry, bright but chilly day on Sunday, with some long spells of sunshine possible and a light northwesterly breeze. Maximum temperature 8 °C.”

16:24Katie Collings

Tyne Bridge traffic hack

This is the trick drivers are using to avoid longer journeys around the Tyne Bridge.

Ever since the slip road from the Swan House roundabout onto the bridge was closed to anyone except buses and taxis, motorists have been looking for ways get around it.

But there’s one technique which is proving pretty popular - and we spotted one driver doing it, which you can see above.

The proper route to get from the roundabout on to the Tyne Bridge is to turn left on to Melbourne Street/A186 and down past the historic Holy Jesus Hospital.

You’re then meant to hang a right on to Pandon Bank and queue at the lights at the bottom. Then you’re supposed to proceed back on to the other side of the road you just came down, before finally turning on to the Tyne Bridge.

It’s a bit of a protracted route and the loop has become notorious for traffic build-ups, especially around the lights at the bottom of Pandon Bank.

Well how about this sneaky little tactic?

Drivers are using a little turn off just past the Holy Jesus Hospital to pull into and wait for a gap in the traffic to do a U-turn.

Drivers appear to be able to carry out the manoeuvre without crossing unbroken white lines or going against a no-turn sign. Without passing the “no entry” signs on the small road, drivers are able to wait and watch traffic coming in both directions, swing round, cross on to the left hand side of the road and drive straight onto the Tyne Bridge.

Drivers appear to be able to carry out the manoeuvre without crossing unbroken white lines or going against a no-turn sign.

16:13Katie Collings

Delays on the Felling Bypass

Traffic is busy but moving on the A184 Newcastle Road westbound where there are roadworks and lane closures.

16:03Katie Collings

What will the weather be like tonight?

“Cloud thickening from the north through the evening, bringing some outbreaks of rain or drizzle. The rain will clear through the early hours, with some clear spells in the north, where it will also feel a little chilly. Minimum temperature 1 °C.”

15:51Katie Collings

Train delays cleared

Normal service has now resumed on Virgin Trains East Coast between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Morpeth following earlier trespass incident.

15:41Katie Collings

Queen and Adam Lambert review

The Queen and Adam Lambert tour rolled into Newcastle and boy what a show it was.

(Image: Birmingham Mail)

Anticipation was high, as it was nearly three years since Brian May, John Taylor and Adam Lambert were last in Tyneside, and the crowd amused themselves while waiting by performing a Mexican wave around the arena.

The claps grew louder after every lap.

Any movement on stage drew loud cheers from the sold-out crowd, especially the start of the smoke machine, as the lights went down the audience grew more excited and they arrived just before 8.30pm.

The huge screen on the stage came to life with a metal hand belonging to a robot smashing through a wall and everyone just started screaming to the strains of May playing We Will Rock you.

The choice of robot (Frank) acknowledging this year’s 40th anniversary of Queen’s biggest-selling studio album to date, News of the World from 1977, which yielded the immortal anthems We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions

May walked down the centre of the huge stage and Hammer to Fall began.

The back catalogue of Queen was delivered in quick succession. With dazzling blue lighting we enjoyed Tie Your Mother Down, Another One Bites the Dust followed with white lines pulsing on the screen to the beat of Taylor’s drum and Fat Bottomed Girls got the audience up dancing where I was in the arena.

Soon Frank’s head appeared from under the stage with Adam Lambert sitting on it, resplendent in a pink suit and we heard Killer Queen. We then had a pink tricycle for Bicycle Race.

Still busy in Gateshead

Traffic is queuing on the A184 Askew Road eastbound at the A167 Tyne Bridge Approach.

15:04Katie Collings

Heavy in Sunderland

Traffic is heavy on the A1018 Wearmouth Bridge southbound in Sunderland.

14:52Katie Collings

Durham buses still diverting

Katie Collings

Bogus window cleaner fleeced an 80-year-old disabled woman

Despicable Daniel McGill posed as a window cleaner to trick his way into the home of a disabled 80-year-old woman and steal from her.

(Image: Northumbria Police)

The cowardly bully deliberately targeted the woman because of her frailty after turning up at her Gateshead bungalow.

A court heard McGill walked in uninvited, got a drink using a plastic cup then started washing windows without being asked.

The 36-year-old demanded a £4 payment from the pensioner, who is profoundly deaf, has poor eyesight, restricted mobility and communicates using sign language then stole precious property, including irreplaceable jewellery belonging to the victim’s mother.

The lowlife had gone before the victim realised her personal belongings had been taken but was tracked down after his DNA was found on the cup he had used.

Jailing McGill for four years at Newcastle Crown Court, Recorder William Lowe QC told him: “I am sure you targeted this woman because of her frailty.

“She was 80 years of age, profoundly deaf, without speech, in general poor health, had poor eye sight and was not able to walk very much at all.

“You presented yourself at her door with a bucket.

“You bullied your way in and you abused her by stealing from her property of immense sentimental value. None of the property was recovered, it has gone forever.

“This is a very grave offence and it demands grave punishment.”

Prosecutor Tony Cornberg told the court McGill had turned up at the woman’s door in Deckham, Gateshead, with a bucket on April 19.

Joker arrested for 'flashing' his penis - but it turns out to be a sausage roll

A joker was arrested after he waved a sausage roll near his groin and fooled a passer-by into thinking he was exposing his penis.

Daniel Proctor made out like he was flashing his genitals at a woman early one morning outside McDonald’s, on Newcastle’s Grainger Street, a court heard.

The horrified ‘victim’ immediately reported the 30-year-old to the police and Proctor was traced to the toilets inside the fast food restaurant.

An officer initially arrested him on suspicion of indecent exposure but subsequently discovered he had in fact been holding a Greggs sausage roll near his groin area.

However, the smile was wiped off Proctor’s face when police instead charged him with a public order offence on the grounds that he made the pastry “look like his penis” and, as a result, “behaved in a disorderly manner”, prosecutors said.

Heavy in Swalwell

Slow in Gateshead

Traffic is slow on the A184 Askew Road eastbound at the A167 Tyne Bridge Approach.

10:32KEY EVENT

Police searching for woman's body in River Wear

Police and marine officers are searching for a woman’s body in the River Wear.

It was reported to police on Friday that a body may have gone into the river on Monday, November 27, at about 7pm.

An investigation was launched and searches have been carried out along a section of the path next to the river under the Wearmouth Bridge. Marine officers are also carrying out a search of the river.

Officers are keen to speak to anyone who may have been in the area on Monday night who saw anything suspicious or out of the ordinary.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Woods, from Northumbria Police, said:

“We’ve had a report that the body of a woman may be in the River Wear and officers are carrying out a search of the area, both on land and in the river itself, to establish whether or not this is the case.

“It’s believed the incident happened on Monday at about 7pm/7.30pm under the Wearmouth Bridge and I’m keen to speak to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen anything that could help us with our enquiries.”

Missing Wallsend woman

Police are appealing for help to find a woman who has been reported missing.

(Image: handout)

Hannah Baker-Smith, from Wallsend, has not been seen since around 4pm yesterday afternoon.

Officers from Northumbria Police are now looking for her and have appealed for help from the public.

A spokesman said: “Northumbria Police are appealing for the public’s help in tracing a missing person Hannah Baker-Smith, missing from the Wallsend area since around 4pm on Friday 1st December 2017.”

Anyone with any information should call Northumbria Police on 101 quoting the long number 636 of 011217.

10:04Katie Collings

Traffic moving well

There are no reported collisions or major disruptions yet this morning.

We can see that traffic is moving well on the A19 northbound at the Tyne Tunnel in Jarrow.

09:38Katie Collings

Durham Police sergeant appears in court

A serving police officer has appeared in court accused of a string of sex offences, including five counts of rape.

Mohammed Perwaze, who until this week worked as a sergeant with Durham Constabulary, faces a total of 19 charges, which are alleged to have happened between 1996 and 2016.

All apart from one relate to one female complainant.

Perwaze was brought before Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning.

Wearing a black padded coat, he spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth during the hearing.

Simon Clements, prosecuting, asked all the charges be sent to the crown court.

Matthew Savage, defending, made an application for bail on behalf of Perwaze.

However, the bench decided the 45-year-old, of Caravan, at the Barns Briar Dykes in Barnard Castle, should be remanded in custody until his next hearing, which will be at Durham Crown Court early next year.

Mr Perwaze is charged with; Five counts of indecent assault, sexual activity with a young person, four counts of sexual assault, five counts of rape, coercive behaviour, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count of child neglect.

Prior to the hearing Durham Constabulary confirmed that he had been suspended.

Chief Supt Jane Spraggon said:

“Durham Constabulary takes all alleged offences of this nature extremely seriously. As soon as we were made aware of the allegations we acted immediately. We have suspended the officer as the investigation continues.”

Perwaze has a number of years service with the force.

In 2005 he was tasked with helping to boost race relations in Darlington, working along with officials from the Darlington and County Durham County Racial Equality Council (DDREC).

At the time he was chairman of the force’s Black and Asian Police Association (BAPA).

09:26Katie Collings

Today's weather forecast

“Much of Saturday dry with some sunny spells, especially to the east of the Pennines, and less cold than of late. However, thicker cloud will bring some rain to the north of the region by evening. Maximum temperature 8 °C.”

09:14Katie Collings

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